Apparatus for packing piece goods, particularly fruits, into a hose-shaped packing material

ABSTRACT

A fully automatic apparatus for packing discrete articles such as fruits into a hose-shaped packing material and sealing a filled package at both ends. The apparatus comprises two coaxially arranged pipes whereby the outer pipe is slidably mounted on the inner pipe and holds a supply of the hose material and part of a brake device. The articles are passed through the inner pipe into the hose which is closed at its bottom end by a conventional closing and severing device in timed relationship to the movement of the outer pipe along the inner pipe. Below the pipes is arranged a clamping ring controlled in its movement by the closing and severing device and serving to constrict the hose into a suitably narrow neck portion at which the hose may then be closed and severed.

United States Patent Wickersheim [54] APPARATUS FOR PACKING PIECE GOODS, PARTICULARLY FRUITS, INTO A HOSE-SHAPED PACKING MATERIAL [72] Inventor: August Wickersheim, 4, Industriestrasse,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 8, 1969 Germany ..P 19 23 508.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.292,23l 8/1942 Lesavoy ..53/193X PROGRAM CONTROL UNIT [ Feb. 22, 1972 2,656,658 10/1953 Grady ..53/193 2,908,123 10/1959 Muller et a1 ..53/l93 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,148,933 5/1963 Germany ..53/193 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spruill AttorneyMcGlew and Toren ABSTRACT A fully automatic apparatus for packing discrete articles such as fruits into a hose-shaped packing material and sealing a filled package at both ends. The apparatus comprises two coaxiaily arranged pipes whereby the outer pipe is slidabiy mounted on the inner pipe and holds a supply of the hose material and part of a brake device. The articles are passed through the inner pipe into the hose which is closed at its bottom end by a conventional closing and severing device in timed relationship to the movement of the outer pipe along the inner pipe. Below the pipes is arranged a clamping ring controlled in its movement by the closing and severing device and serving to constrict the hose into a suitably narrow neck portion at which the hose may then be closed and severed.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDFB22 1912 SM? 1 OF Q PROGRAM CONTROL UNIT PROGRAM CONTROL UNIT fnyeman HMHST WICKER STQLEIH c "K am.

HTFBRMEM APPARATUS FOR PACKING PIECE GOODS, PARTICULARLY FRUITS, INTO A HOSE-SHAPED PACKING MATERIAL This invention relates to a fully automatic apparatus for packing piece goods and particularly for packing fruits into a hose-shaped packing material, by means of a slightly inclined filling pipe adapted to retain a relatively large supply of a folded up hose material, a device for closing the hose being arranged in-line behind the filling pipe at a position in which the hose has been constricted into the form of a strand by means of tape clamps embracing the hose strand and for forming a bottom closure for a subsequent hose portion overlapping the filling pipe outlet as well as for severing the finished package at a point intermediate the two closure points.

Various arrangements of apparatus of this general type are known and are provided so as to perform the formation of the package, the constricting and stretching of the packing hose, the making up of the locking clamps and the severing of the packages which have been closed at both ends intermediate two locking clamps by means of suitably arranged mechanical devices whereby with some types types apparatus several separate operations must be carried out manually whereas in other types an automatic control of the individual operations is provided. All of these known types of apparatus are based however on a vertical arrangement, i.e., in employing a filling pipe which is nearly vertical, whereby gravity feed is employed for feeding the articles to be packed and for forming the packages.

For overcoming the drawbacks of fully automatic apparatus such as insufficiently careful treatment of the articles to be packed during the filling in of such articles, a semiautomatic apparatus has been proposed in which the filling pipe is slightly inclined with respect to a worktable on which is provided the closing and severing device on a side of the filling pipe outlet and spaced therefrom so as to allow manual handling of the package. The closing and severing device serves to apply tape clamps around a neck or strand portion of the hose and comprises means for gripping the packaging hose after the hose has been manually constricted and stretched. This apparatus is of a substantially horizontal structure and requires the articles to be packed to be conveyed manually from the filling pipe outlet across the worktable when finishing the packages. Furthermore, in this known type of apparatus, numerous operations are carried out manually so that an operator is required. This apparatus, moreover, does not allow high speed operation. The operating speed of all devices in line with and in advance of the packaging apparatus such as sorting and weighing devices must be adapted to the speed of the operator. If the operator were to increase his output, careful handling of delicate articles is no longer assured since with a faster manipulation the careful treatment of the packing goods will not and cannot be observed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for packing piece goods, particularly for packing fruits, which apparatus is operating fully automatically and allows for careful treatment of the articles to be packed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the above type which has an improved performance and an improved operating reliability and allows to pack any desired quantity of articles and which is of a compact design requiring only limited space for its installation.

In achieving the stated and further objects the invention proposes an improved apparatus for packing piece goods of the general type defined above which is characterized, accord ing to the present invention, by a base frame, a filling pipe slantingly mounted on the frame at a small angle, a guide track parallel to the filling pipe and mounted below that pipe, a carriage movably mounted on the guide track and movable along the track by means of a drive means, the carriage carrying a supporting pipe for accommodating the hose supply, the sup porting pipe enclosing at least a portion of the filling pipe and being guided thereon for a movement relative to the filling pipe and including, at its free end facing the filling pipe outlet, a device for restraining the withdrawal of the hose supply from the supporting pipe during filling and closing operations, the supporting pipe being of a shorter longitudinal extension than the filling pipe, a clamping ring arranged in the discharge area of the filling pipe below the filling pipe outlet, the clamping ring being movable on the frame in a horizontal direction and adapted to be controlled by the device for closing and severing the hose means and adapted to embrace a hose portion withdrawn from the supporting pipe, the clamping ring including a restricted gripping section adapted to form the strand portion of the hose, and a closing head of the device for closing and severing the hose arranged below the clamping ring in the path of movement of the gripping section.

The base frame includes a table-shaped support plate to which is attached the closing and severing device, the support plate being coupled, at the plate surface opposite to the closing head of the closing and severing device, to a vertical supporting frame of adjustable length, the supporting frame holding one end of the filling pipe, together with the guide track for the drive carriage of the supporting pipe. For adapting the filling speed of the particular packing good being packed, the inclination of the filling pipe together with that of the guide track for the drive carriage of the supporting pipe is adjustable.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the length of the packaging bag is variable according to the filling capacity thus enabling to obtain packages the packing material of which closely engages the packed articles. Toward this purpose, adjustable travel limit switches are disposed in the path of movement of the drive carriage of the supporting pipe.

For preventing any damming up of the articles to be packed in the filling pipe during feeding of the articles, the filling pipe is provided in its upper surface with a slot-shaped opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the pipe and defining a guide slot for a cam, the cam being connected to the supporting ring for the supporting pipe through a connecting rod pivotally mounting a scoop rotatable toward the filling pipe outlet but rotatable toward the opposite filling pipe end only up to a position perpendicular to the filling pipe axis. The cam connected to the supporting ring for the supporting pipe through a connecting rod is further connected to a second connecting rod parallel to the outer connecting rod and disposed in the interior of the filling pipe adjacent to the inner wall surface of the pipe and oriented in the direction of the guide slot, the free end of the second connecting rod protruding beyond the upper filling pipe opening and carrying a second scoop similar to the first scoop, the second scoop pivoted at the cam, this second scoop being rotatable toward the filling pipe outlet but rotatable in the opposite direction only up to a perpendicular position thus dissolving any damming up of the articles which might occur ahead of the feed opening of the filling pipe.

The device for restraining the withdrawal of the hose supply from the supporting pipe includes a brake ring of angle section which is loosely slipped over the lower free end of the supporting pipe and secured against slipping off, and further includes a pair of solenoids arranged on either side of the filling pipe and mounted on cantilever arms connected to the drive carriage for the supporting pipe such that the brake ring is disposed in the magnetic field generated by the solenoids. For holding the brake ring of the supporting pipe this supporting pipe includes at its lower free end a supporting bead, the bead being embraced by a horizontal flange of the brake ring which is adjacent to the outer wall of the supporting pipe in such a manner that there remains an interstice for accommodating the packaging hose, the brake ring being provided with a surrounding rubber bead attached to the edge of the horizontal flange and engaging the rear side of the bead of the supporting pipe.

For assuring synchronism of all devices of the packing apparatus the means for controlling the motions of moving the supporting pipe and the clamping ring, of rotating the rocking lever, of closing and severing the strand portion of the hose and of activating and deactivating the solenoids for the brake ring, and the drive means for these devices are combined in a single control unit and powered by a single motive means.

Further objects of the present invention will be explained in connection with the appended drawings in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the packing apparatus of the present invention wherein FIG. 1 is a lateral elevational view of the packing apparatus, in the filling position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus whereby the filling pipe has been removed;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view according to line III III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a lateral elevational view of the packing apparatus during the closing operation of a filled hose portion;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through filling and supporting pipes and shows in elevation a scoop inside the filling p p FIG. 6 is a top view of the filling pipe of FIG. 5, after removal of the supporting pipe;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a further embodiment of the filling pipe in which are provided two scoops; and

FIG. 8 shows partially in elevation and partially in cross section the filling and supporting pipes and the device for restraining the hose material.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the packing apparatus comprises a base frame 10 with an upper horizontal support plate 11 to which is connected at one side a vertical supporting frame 12 the length of which may be adjustable. A filling pipe 13 is mounted at the upper free end 14 of the vertical supporting frame 12. The filling pipe 13 is slightly slanted. The filling pipe 13 is preferably mounted pivotally on the supporting frame 12 thus allowing to selectively vary the inclination of the filling pipe 13. In that case, the filling pipe 13 may be locked in any desired position by means of a locking device (not shown in the drawings). The filling pipe outlet is indicated at 15, and the feed opening for the articles to be packed is indicated at 16.

A guide track 17 is arranged below the slightly slanting filling pipe 13 and extends parallel to the filling pipe. The guide track 17 comprises guide rails 18 on which a driven carriage 20 may be moved in the direction of the arrow x by means of a drive means such as a motor driven chain drive (not shown). The length of the guide track 17 approximately corresponds to the length of the filling pipe 13 so that the guide track is slightly shorter than the filling pipe. The carriage 20 preferably comprises a plate-shaped structure bearing guides for engagement with the guide rails 18 of the guide track 17 (see FIG. 3).

A supporting pipe 21 is mounted on the carriage 20 and is slidably guided on the filling pipe 13. The supporting pipe 21 serves to accommodate a relatively large supply of folded up hose material 22 and is of a smaller longitudinal extension than the filling pipe 13. Several guide rods 23 which may be of a plastics material are spaced around the outer circumference of the filling pipe 13 and extend along the length of the filling pipe. These guide rods 23 are adapted to movably guide the supporting pipe 21 (see FIG. 3). The supporting pipe 21 comprises at its free end facing the filling pipe outlet a device 25 for restraining the withdrawal of the hose supply 22 from the supporting pipe 21 during the filling and closing operations. This device 25 will be described in more detail as the description proceeds.

The supporting pipe 21 is mounted on the drive carriage by means of a supporting ring 26 which is likewise movably guided on the filling pipe 13. The ring 26 is coupled to the carriage 20 through a plate-shaped mounting 27. The free edge of the lower end of the supporting pipe 21 is formed with a surrounding bead 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 8). A further bead 29 may be provided on the supporting pipe 21 in a position spaced from this surrounding bead 28. The section of the supporting pipe 21 between these two beads 28, 29 serves to accommodate the folded up hose supply 22. The supporting pipe 21 is releasably attached to the ring 26 thus allowing to readily replace the supporting pipe. This constitutes a significant advantage if a short supporting pipe is intended to be replaced by a longer supporting pipe or vice versa.

Travel limit switches indicated at 30 are arranged in the path of movement of the drive carriage 20 for the supporting pipe 21 and are located on either side of the guide track 17. These switches are of a conventional design and are adapted to reverse the drive direction for the carriage 20 or to prevent a further travel of the carriage 20 beyond the switches 30 when coming into engagement with the carriage 20. The travel limit switches 30 are adjustable on the guide track 17 thus allowing to selectively adjust the travel of the carriage 20. This adjustment of the limit switches 30 provides for adapting the length of the required hose portion to the desired quantity of articles intended to be packed.

A horizontal clamping ring 31 is movably mounted on the support plate 11 of the base frame 10 and disposed in the discharge area of the filling pipe 13 and below the filling pipe outlet 15. The clamping ring 31 consists of two arcuate ring sections 32 and 33 which are arranged in the form of an elliptical ring. These sections define, at their one ends, a narrower nose-shaped gripping section 34 whereas the other two ring section ends are attached to a guide carriage 35 which is movable in the direction of the arrow x along guide rails 37, 38 on the support plate 11 by means of a drive lever 36 (see FIG. 2). The arrangement of the clamping ring 31 is such that the clamping ring 31 embraces the hose portion 22a withdrawn from the supporting pipe 21 and constricts this hose portion in the plane of the clamping ring by means of the nose-shaped gripping section 34 into a strand configuration when the clamping ring is moved into its withdrawn position.

A closing and severing device 40 of conventional construction is arranged below the clamping ring 31 in the path of movement of the nose-shaped gripping section 34. This device 40 for closing filled baglike packings 22b of hose packing material by means of pliable clamps formed from tape material and for severing the closed up bag of hose packing material is arranged at the side of the frame 10 and approximately perpendicularly to the guide track of the clamping ring. This device 40 comprises a closing head 41 with a lead-in slot 42 into which will be introduced by means of the clamping ring 31 the hose section which has been constructed in the form of a strand. The device 40 further comprises a clamp lockup stencils (not shown) and stamping dies (likewise not shown) which are movably mounted towards and away from the stencils by means of a likewise not shown drive means. A driver is associated with each of the stamping dies and is movably guided on the upper and lower sides of the stamping dies and is intermittently engageable with or disengageable from these dies during their closing movement by means of clutch members having drive members swiveling into recesses of the guide means. The drivers serve to severe lengths of tapes 44 supplied from a supply drum 43 and intermittently fed by rollers and to bend these lengths of tape into an U-shape around bending mandrels which may be swiveled in and out of the path of movement of the stamping dies by means of control members arranged on the drivers. A severing knife for severing the hose section between the closing points is moreover arranged between the stamping dies. In the lead-in slot 42 of the closing head is provided an operating lever 45 for engaging the drive means for the stamping dies, however it is likewise possible to employ other types of closing and severing devices. Below the extended position of the clamping ring 31 there may additionally be provided an one-armed rocking lever 46 pivotally mounted on the pivot axis 47 at the closing head 41 of the closing and severing device 40. The pivotal movement of the rocking lever 46 may be controlled by the movement of the clamping ring 31 (see FIG. 2).

For assuring an unrestricted passage of the articles to be packed through the filling pipe 13, the filling pipe 13 is provided, as may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, in its upper surface with a slot-shaped opening 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of the pipe and defining a guide slot for a cam 52 which is connected to the supporting ring 26 for the supporting pipe 21 through a connecting rod 51. The cam 52 may be, in cross section, of a double-T profile the web of which is somewhat longer than the wall thickness of the filling pipe 13 and the flanges of which overlap the upper and lower lateral slot wall portions 50a, 50b respectively of the filling pipe wall (see FIG. 6). A scoop 53 extending into the interior of the filling pipe 13 is pivotally mounted at 54 on the cam 52 which is movable in the direction of the arrow x and the scoop 53 is tiltable or rotatable in the direction toward the filling pipe outlet 15, i.e., in the direction of the arrow y. The scoop 53 may not be rotated in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the feed opening 16 of the filling pipe 13 beyond a perpendicular position with respect to the axis of the filling pipe 13. A limiting bar 55 which is attached to the cam 52 prevents rotation of the scoop 53 beyond the perpendicular position in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow y. The scoop 53 may be spring-biased into the initial position shown in full lines in FIG. 5. The force of such spring must however be selected such that packing goods passing through the filling pipe 13 may lift the scoop 53 for obtaining an unrestricted passage. In another embodiment the spring bias of the scoop 53 may be omitted so that the scoop will then assume, due to gravity, an approximately vertical position such as the one shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. If the supporting pipe 21 assumes relative to the filling pipe 13 the position shown in FIG. 5 or if the supporting pipe 21 is moved relative to the filling pipe 13 in the direction of the arrow x then the cam 52 together with the scoop 53 will be moved in the same direction. If there should be a damming up of packing goods in the interior of the filling pipe 13 then this obstruction will be removed by the scoop 53 during the advance of the supporting pipe 21 since the scoop 53 cannot move in backward direction and will push the dammed up packing good ahead of itself until the obstruction has been dis solved or the packing goods has been introduced into the hose portion 22a or 22b respectively which is closed at its bottom at 57.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the cam 52 which is connected to the supporting ring 26 for the supporting pipe 21 through the connecting rod 51 is also connected to a second connecting rod 61 which runs parallel to the outer connecting rod 51 but is disposed inside the filling pipe 13 in an extension to the guide slot 50 and adjacent to the inner wall of the filling pipe. The free end 62 of the connecting rod 61 protrudes beyond the upper filling pipe opening 16 and carries at 64 a pivotally mounted second scoop 63 which is rotatable around this axis and is formed similar to the scoop 53. This second scoop 63 is likewise rotatable toward the filling pipe outlet but rotatable in the opposite direction only up to a perpendicular position with respect to the axis of the filling pipe. The limiting bar for preventing rotation of the scoop 63 beyond the perpendicular position is indicated at 65. Scoop 63 serves to spread packing goods which have dammed up already in the feed opening ofthe filling pipe 13.

The device 25 for restraining the withdrawal of the hose supply 22 from the supporting pipe 21 includes a brake ring 70 of angle section profile which is loosely slipped over the lower free end of the supporting pipe 21 and secured against slipping off, and a pair of solenoids 71, 72 arranged on either side of the filling pipe 13 and mounted on the free ends of cantilever arms 73, 74 respectively connected in such a manner to the drive carriage for the supporting pipe 21 so that the brake ring 70 is disposed in the magnetic fields generated by the solenoids 71, 72 (see FIG. 3). By mounting the solenoids 71, 72 on the movable drive carriage 20 their distance from the brake ring 70 remains unchanged also when moving the brake ring together with the supporting pipe 21 along the filling pipe 13. The arrangement and the mounting of the brake ring 70 on the supporting pipe 21 is such that the horizontal flange 70a of the brake ring 70 overlaps the surrounding bead 28 on the supporting pipe 21 in simultaneously leaving an interstice 75 for passing through the packing hose whereas the vertical front flange 70b will be brought into an engagement with the front side of the bead 28 when the brake ring 70 is attracted by a magnetic field which is generated by the solenoids 71, 72. As soon as the magnetic field is removed, the brake ring 70 loose ly engages the supporting pipe 21 in which condition the brake ring is secured against slipping off by a surrounding rubber bead 76 which is attached in such a manner to the free edge of the horizontal flange 70a of the brake ring 70 so that the rubber bead 76 engages the rear wall of the bead 28 on the supporting pipe 21. The brake ring 71) together with the rubber bead 76 is therefore, in cross section, of an U-profile the two free legs 70b and 76 of which engage the head 28 on either side and retain the brake ring 70 on the supporting pipe 21.

The apparatus of the present invention operates as follows: When withdrawing the supporting pipe 21 into its uppermost position shown in FIG. 1 the required length of hose material for the packing is withdrawn from the hose supply 22, and the bottom closure 57 which has been formed when closing up the preceding package stretches across the filling pipe outlet. During this time, the solenoids 71, 72 are deactivated, i.e., there is no magnetic field so that the brake ring 70 loosely engages the edge of the supporting pipe 21. Thus the required length of hose material may be readily withdrawn from the supporting pipe 21 during the backward movement of the supporting pipe. As soon as the supporting pipe 21 has reached its uppermost position (FIG. 1) the articles to be packed arc introduced into the filling pipe 13. Then the supporting pipe 21 is moved into its lowermost position (FIG. 4). During this filling operation, the solenoids 71, 72 are already switched on and generate magnetic fields by which the brake ring 70 will be pressed against the edge of the supporting pipe 21, in the direction of the solenoids 71, 72 thus preventing a withdrawal of additional hose material from the supporting pipe 21 during the filling operation. The brake ring 70 restrains the withdrawal of further hose material until the filled bag portion has been closed and severed from the hose supply.

As soon as the filling operation is finished the supporting pipe 21 is moved into its lowermost position so that the filled hose portion 22b is suspended within the clamping ring 31. At this moment the clamping ring 31 is moved in the direction of the closing head 41 of the closing and severing device 40, and simultaneously the rocking lever 46 is moved in the direction of the arrow x and assists in introducing the hose portion 220 into the closing head 41 (see FIG. 2). During the movement of the clamping ring 31 the hose portion 22a slips into the gripping section 34 and is constricted thereby and then introduced in this condition into the lead-in slot 42 of the closing head 41 during a further movement of the clamping ring 31. By the application of the operating lever 45 the drive means for the stamping dies is activated, the hose portion 22a is closed in a manner known per se and severed intermediate the two closures. The filled package which is closed on all sides will then be conveyed to another place. The bottom closure 57 for the subsequent package has already been fixed. When the subsequent bag has been fillled and closed the supporting pipe 21 is again moved upwardly, and the solenoids 71, 72 are again deactivated so that during the upward movement of the supporting pipe 21 a following hose section may be withdrawn from the hose supply 22. Simultaneously the rocking lever 46 is rotated into the position shown in FIG. 2, and the clamping ring 31 is moved into its outer position (FIG.

1) so that a new packing operation may be initiated. The

method of operation of the packing apparatus already shows the high speed operation that may be effectively obtained. No operator is required.

The motions of the various devices of the packing apparatus are synchronized in a manner assuring the method of opera tion described above. Preferably the means for controlling the motions of moving the supporting pipe 21 and the clamping ring 31 as well as of rotating the rocking lever 46. of closing and severing the strand portion of the hose and of activating and deactivating the solenoids 71, 72 for the brake ring 70 and the drive means for these devices are combined in a single control unit and powered by a single motive means, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The invention is not restricted to the above illustrated and described embodiments. Further modifications in the arrangement of the various devices of the packing apparatus are also withinlthe scope of the present invention. For the packing material hose netting may also be employed.

I claim:

1. A fully automatic apparatus for packing piece goods, particularly fruit, into a hose-shaped packing material, comprising a slightly inclined filling pipe assembly having an inlet and an outlet and arranged to retain a relatively large supply of folded up hose-shaped packing material, and means for closing the packing material arranged in line behind the outlet from said filling pipe assembly for constricting the packing material into the form of a strand and for forming a top closure for a filled portion of packing material and a bottom closure for a subsequent portion of the packing material overlapping said filling pipe assembly outlet and for severing the filled portion of packing material at a point intermediate the two closures, wherein the improvement comprises that said filling pipe assembly comprises a base frame, a filling pipe slantingly mounted on said base frame at a small angle and with the inlet to said filling pipe located above the outlet therefrom, a guide track disposed parallel to said filling pipe and mounted below said filling pipe, a carriage movably mounted on said guide track and arranged to be moved along said track by a drive means, a supporting pipe mounted on said carriage and accommodating a supply of the hose-shaped packing material, said supporting pipe enclosing at least a portion of the length of said filling pipe and being guided thereon for movement relative to said filling pipe, a device located at the free end of said supporting pipe facing the outlet from said filling pipe for restraining the withdrawal of the supply of packing material from said supporting pipe during filling and closing operations, said supporting pipe being of a shorter length than said filling pipe, said means for closing the packing material comprises a clamping ring arranged adjacent to and spaced below the outlet from said filling pipe, said clamping ring movably positioned on said frame, a drive device connected to said clamping ring for moving it in a horizontal direction, a closing and severing device for closing and severing the packing material arranged to embrace a portion of the packing material withdrawn from said supporting pipe, said clamping ring including a restricted gripping section arranged to form the strand portion of the packing material, said closing and severing device including a closing head arranged below said clamping ring in the path of movement of said gripping section of said clamping ring.

2. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage for driving said supporting pipe includes a plate with guides for engagement with said guide track, and said guide track comprises guide rails.

3. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base frame includes a table-shaped support plate with said closing and severing device attached to said support plate, a vertical supporting frame of adjustable length coupled to said support plate at a position spaced oppositely from said closing head of said closing and severing device, said supporting frame holding the inlet end of said filling pipe and said guide track for said drive carriage of said supporting pipe.

4. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, whereinv the inlet end of said filling pipe is pivotally mounted on said supporting frame and is arranged to be locked in position relative thereto.

5. A fully automatic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein adjustable travel limit switches are mounted in the path of movement of said drive carriage of said supporting pipe.

6. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a supporting ring is guided on said filling pipe and coupled to said drive carriage, and said supporting pipe is removably attached to said supporting ring.

7. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filling pipe includes a plurality of guide rods positioned on and extending along the outer circumference of said filling pipe with said guide rods disposed in spaced relationship and arranged to guide said supporting pipe on said filling pipe.

8. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping ring consists of two arcuate ring sections each arranged in the form of an elliptical ring and defining at one end a narrower nose-shaped gripping section, guide rails mounted on said base frame, a guide carriage movably mounted on said guide rails, and a drive lever arranged to move said guide carriage along said guide rails, and the other ends of said two ring sections secured to said guide carriage for movement therewith.

9. A fully automatic apparatus as in claim 3 wherein an onearmed rocking lever is arranged at the closing head of said closing and severing device and is positioned below and spaced from said clamping ring.

10. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said filling pipe is provided in its upper surface with a slot-shaped opening extending in the longitudinal direction of said filling pipe and defining a guide slot, a connecting rod secured to said supporting ring and extending longitudinally along the exterior of said filling pipe, a cam connected to the end of said connecting rod opposite the end fixed to said supporting ring, said cam extending into the guide slot in said filling pipe, a scoop rotatably attached to said cam for movement toward said filling pipe outlet but being rotatable in the opposite direction toward the filling pipe inlet only up to a position where said scoop extends perpendicularly to the axis of said filling pipe.

11. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein a second connecting rod disposed in parallel relation ship to said connecting rod secured in said connecting ring and disposed in the interior of said filling pipe adjacent to the inner wall surface thereof and oriented in the direction of said guide slot, said second connecting rod being connected at one end to said cam and the opposite free end of said second connecting rod protruding beyond the inlet of said filling pipe, and a second scoop similar to said first scoop connected to the free end of said second connecting rod, said second scoop being rotatable toward the outlet of said filling pipe but being rotatable in the opposite direction only to a position in which said second scoop is perpendicular to the axis of said filling pipe.

12. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim [1, wherein said cam has a cross section of a double-T profile with the web thereof being somewhat longer than the wall thickness of said filling pipe and with the flanges thereof overlapping the upper and lower slot wall portions respectively of said filling pipe.

13. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said device for restraining the withdrawal of the packing material from said supporting pipe includes a brake ring of angular cross sectional shape loosely fitted over the lower free end of said supporting pipe and secured thereon against slipping off, a pair of cantilever arms secured to said drive carriage for said supporting pipe and positioned on either side of said filling pipe, a solenoid arranged on the end of each of said cantilever arms for forming a magnetic field enclosing said filling pipe and said brake ring being disposed in said magnetic field.

14. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supporting pipe includes a surrounding bead located at its lower free end, said brake ring having a horizontal flange which embraces said bead, said brake ring being positioned adjacent to the outer wall of said supporting pipe in such a manner that an interstice is provided therebetween for accommodating the packing material, and said brake ring having a surrounding rubber bead attached to the end of said said clamping ring, the rotation of said rocking lever, the operation of said closing and severing device for the strand portion of the packing material, and the activating and deactivating of said solenoids for said brake ring. 

1. A fully automatic apparatus for packing piece goods, particularly fruit, into a hose-shaped packing material, comprising a slightly inclined filling pipe assembly having an inLet and an outlet and arranged to retain a relatively large supply of folded up hose-shaped packing material, and means for closing the packing material arranged in line behind the outlet from said filling pipe assembly for constricting the packing material into the form of a strand and for forming a top closure for a filled portion of packing material and a bottom closure for a subsequent portion of the packing material overlapping said filling pipe assembly outlet and for severing the filled portion of packing material at a point intermediate the two closures, wherein the improvement comprises that said filling pipe assembly comprises a base frame, a filling pipe slantingly mounted on said base frame at a small angle and with the inlet to said filling pipe located above the outlet therefrom, a guide track disposed parallel to said filling pipe and mounted below said filling pipe, a carriage movably mounted on said guide track and arranged to be moved along said track by a drive means, a supporting pipe mounted on said carriage and accommodating a supply of the hoseshaped packing material, said supporting pipe enclosing at least a portion of the length of said filling pipe and being guided thereon for movement relative to said filling pipe, a device located at the free end of said supporting pipe facing the outlet from said filling pipe for restraining the withdrawal of the supply of packing material from said supporting pipe during filling and closing operations, said supporting pipe being of a shorter length than said filling pipe, said means for closing the packing material comprises a clamping ring arranged adjacent to and spaced below the outlet from said filling pipe, said clamping ring movably positioned on said frame, a drive device connected to said clamping ring for moving it in a horizontal direction, a closing and severing device for closing and severing the packing material arranged to embrace a portion of the packing material withdrawn from said supporting pipe, said clamping ring including a restricted gripping section arranged to form the strand portion of the packing material, said closing and severing device including a closing head arranged below said clamping ring in the path of movement of said gripping section of said clamping ring.
 2. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage for driving said supporting pipe includes a plate with guides for engagement with said guide track, and said guide track comprises guide rails.
 3. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base frame includes a table-shaped support plate with said closing and severing device attached to said support plate, a vertical supporting frame of adjustable length coupled to said support plate at a position spaced oppositely from said closing head of said closing and severing device, said supporting frame holding the inlet end of said filling pipe and said guide track for said drive carriage of said supporting pipe.
 4. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the inlet end of said filling pipe is pivotally mounted on said supporting frame and is arranged to be locked in position relative thereto.
 5. A fully automatic apparatus as in claim 1 wherein adjustable travel limit switches are mounted in the path of movement of said drive carriage of said supporting pipe.
 6. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a supporting ring is guided on said filling pipe and coupled to said drive carriage, and said supporting pipe is removably attached to said supporting ring.
 7. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filling pipe includes a plurality of guide rods positioned on and extending along the outer circumference of said filling pipe with said guide rods disposed in spaced relationship and arranged to guide said supporting pipe on said filling pipe.
 8. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping ring consists oF two arcuate ring sections each arranged in the form of an elliptical ring and defining at one end a narrower nose-shaped gripping section, guide rails mounted on said base frame, a guide carriage movably mounted on said guide rails, and a drive lever arranged to move said guide carriage along said guide rails, and the other ends of said two ring sections secured to said guide carriage for movement therewith.
 9. A fully automatic apparatus as in claim 3 wherein an one-armed rocking lever is arranged at the closing head of said closing and severing device and is positioned below and spaced from said clamping ring.
 10. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said filling pipe is provided in its upper surface with a slot-shaped opening extending in the longitudinal direction of said filling pipe and defining a guide slot, a connecting rod secured to said supporting ring and extending longitudinally along the exterior of said filling pipe, a cam connected to the end of said connecting rod opposite the end fixed to said supporting ring, said cam extending into the guide slot in said filling pipe, a scoop rotatably attached to said cam for movement toward said filling pipe outlet but being rotatable in the opposite direction toward the filling pipe inlet only up to a position where said scoop extends perpendicularly to the axis of said filling pipe.
 11. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein a second connecting rod disposed in parallel relationship to said connecting rod secured in said connecting ring and disposed in the interior of said filling pipe adjacent to the inner wall surface thereof and oriented in the direction of said guide slot, said second connecting rod being connected at one end to said cam and the opposite free end of said second connecting rod protruding beyond the inlet of said filling pipe, and a second scoop similar to said first scoop connected to the free end of said second connecting rod, said second scoop being rotatable toward the outlet of said filling pipe but being rotatable in the opposite direction only to a position in which said second scoop is perpendicular to the axis of said filling pipe.
 12. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said cam has a cross section of a double-T profile with the web thereof being somewhat longer than the wall thickness of said filling pipe and with the flanges thereof overlapping the upper and lower slot wall portions respectively of said filling pipe.
 13. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said device for restraining the withdrawal of the packing material from said supporting pipe includes a brake ring of angular cross sectional shape loosely fitted over the lower free end of said supporting pipe and secured thereon against slipping off, a pair of cantilever arms secured to said drive carriage for said supporting pipe and positioned on either side of said filling pipe, a solenoid arranged on the end of each of said cantilever arms for forming a magnetic field enclosing said filling pipe and said brake ring being disposed in said magnetic field.
 14. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said supporting pipe includes a surrounding bead located at its lower free end, said brake ring having a horizontal flange which embraces said bead, said brake ring being positioned adjacent to the outer wall of said supporting pipe in such a manner that an interstice is provided therebetween for accommodating the packing material, and said brake ring having a surrounding rubber bead attached to the end of said horizontal flange and disposed in engagement with the rear side of said bead on said supporting pipe.
 15. A fully automatic apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein a single control unit powered by a single motive means controls the motion of moving said supporting pipe and said clamping ring, the rotation of said rocking lever, the operation of said closing and seveRing device for the strand portion of the packing material, and the activating and deactivating of said solenoids for said brake ring. 